Yep, I'm celebrating my first anniversary of retirement this week. I was hoping to be in Batemans Bay, NSW south coast, this week but it wasn't to be but I will be there in 2 weeks so all good.
I have no idea where the last 12 months has gone but wherever it went and whatever I did was all well worth it and I tell you that for free.
No really this has been the best 12 months I have had, I have been too and seen some great places and met some great people, spent heaps on fuel and a large amount on running repairs to the tug. I have also learnt heaps from members of this forum and formed great friendships.
I have stayed in both Caravan Parks, Alternative Camps and Free Camps so kept everyone happy. I enjoyed every one of them too.
I have eaten heaps of good food and well, let me just say SOME not so good food, yes I know, but you have to be naughty sometimes. The problem with that is, it gets away from you and before you know it the mirror is telling you off.
Time, well I don't even know how I found time to go to work when I did work, as soon as you get out of bed, in no time it's time to go back. Some days I don't even want to get out, I think that must be something to do with getting older perhaps.
As for the next 12 months, who knows, I have no plans after Batemans Bay is done and dusted so you could find me camped next to you or knocking on your door.
Whatever I decide you can bet your bottom dollar I will enjoy every moment again.
Just thought I would share that with you all.
dazren said
01:40 AM Sep 25, 2013
good to hear // ?/ Just keep doing what your doing, Mate, Your sounding very content and happy, and that's the way it should be
And I tell you th [OOPS] sorry that's YOUR saying ----- So ?? No Charge for above information Ok !!
Happywanderer said
01:53 AM Sep 25, 2013
That year has gone so quick Doug.
I can remember very clearly when you were a novice asking all the questions.
barina said
02:51 AM Sep 25, 2013
Well done Doug....
neilnruth said
05:18 AM Sep 25, 2013
Is it that long since you sat at our table??? I wonder if you'll see whales this time?
neilnruth said
02:10 PM Sep 25, 2013
And before you know it it will be 10 years since you retired. It will go very quickly now you are so busy. (Sorry, that's not to say you weren't busy when you were working!)
-- Edited by neilnruth on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 02:11:18 PM
GaryKelly said
08:09 PM Sep 25, 2013
I'm glad you did decide to share it with us, Doug.
justcruisin01 said
11:52 PM Sep 25, 2013
Good onya Doug, see what happens when you start asking questions.
Dougwe said
12:53 AM Sep 26, 2013
Thankyou all for your kind words. This retirement thing is great though. Would be better if you could be younger as not as many aches and pains then, still, great just the same, just do things a bit slower, well a lot slower actually.
Dougwe said
12:55 AM Sep 26, 2013
neilnruth wrote:
And before you know it it will be 10 years since you retired. It will go very quickly now you are so busy. (Sorry, that's not to say you weren't busy when you were working!)
-- Edited by neilnruth on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 02:11:18 PM
I'm glad you added that last bit N&R.
I finished off all the plant trimming today so that's done and dusted.
See you real soon.
villatranquilla said
10:56 AM Sep 26, 2013
Congratulations Doug. In Nov we will have clocked up 2 yrs on the road since 'retirement' - our motto is "all plans subject to change at short notice". We arrived at Pardoo Station WA in mid May with plans to leave at the end of July - now staying till the end of Nov. (lol)
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Thursday 26th of September 2013 10:58:39 AM
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Thursday 26th of September 2013 10:59:42 AM
Dougwe said
07:54 PM Sep 26, 2013
Thanks VT, no rush is there, just come and go to suit yourself. If you want to get there quick you can or you can take it slow. No work to go back too, well a little maybe, always something to do.
You're not missing much here in Coastal South West Gippsland Vic as the weather is cold gale force winds and heavy rain as I send this.
BohemianGypsy said
07:55 PM Sep 26, 2013
Hey Doug,
It is the end of the first year of your retirement and the end of the first of many more happy years of retirement ahead of you. I am hearing you on being younger though lol less aches and pains to badger us
I hope we get the opportunity to catch up on many occasions both here at home and out in the great playground of ours and I tell you that for free
Michelle
Esmeralda said
09:34 PM Sep 26, 2013
Congratulations Doug. You have been having a great time since you finished work I'm sure. Helen
Dougwe said
01:13 PM Sep 27, 2013
BG, we will keep in contact for sure and will speak face to face again guaranteed.
Esmeralda, thanks, I am pointing the tug in the direction of Batemans Bay sometime next week with one or two overnight stop offs along the way for sight seeing adventures.
beiffe said
06:40 PM Sep 27, 2013
Congratulations Doug.
I bet you have many tales since I camped with you at greens.
I hope you have many years left to enjoy this great country.
We have to beat that John fella who keeps taking all the girls and leaving none for us. LOL ( a long way to go and I know he is probably fitter now than I am but here's hoping)
I have a few weeks to go for 5 years.
Still loving it and would never go back into a house again.
Regards
Brian
GaryKelly said
05:31 PM Sep 28, 2013
Interesting comment, Brian. So many newbies are terrified of leaving the security of a home before launching themselves into full time travelling, and yet there's you, and others like you, saying you'd never go back into a house again. The hard part is leaving the womb, yeah?
Duh said
07:41 PM Oct 1, 2013
Well done Doug, I only wish I could do it also, I have absolutely no interest in the home and feel it is like a chain around my neck.
Unfortunately SWMBO isn't interested in being on the road full time so I have to be satisfied with the occasional joint sortie and the odd solo trip now and then.
I feel "alive" when I'm on the road and "decaying slowly" when staying at home for too long. Like others have said here I do believe being on the road keeps you interested in life if you enjoying doing it. Nuff said, just glad that you and others are enjoying the lifestyle....
Yep, I'm celebrating my first anniversary of retirement this week. I was hoping to be in Batemans Bay, NSW south coast, this week but it wasn't to be but I will be there in 2 weeks so all good.
I have no idea where the last 12 months has gone but wherever it went and whatever I did was all well worth it and I tell you that for free.
No really this has been the best 12 months I have had, I have been too and seen some great places and met some great people, spent heaps on fuel and a large amount on running repairs to the tug. I have also learnt heaps from members of this forum and formed great friendships.
I have stayed in both Caravan Parks, Alternative Camps and Free Camps so kept everyone happy. I enjoyed every one of them too.
I have eaten heaps of good food and well, let me just say SOME not so good food, yes I know, but you have to be naughty sometimes. The problem with that is, it gets away from you and before you know it the mirror is telling you off.
Time, well I don't even know how I found time to go to work when I did work, as soon as you get out of bed, in no time it's time to go back. Some days I don't even want to get out, I think that must be something to do with getting older perhaps.
As for the next 12 months, who knows, I have no plans after Batemans Bay is done and dusted so you could find me camped next to you or knocking on your door.
Whatever I decide you can bet your bottom dollar I will enjoy every moment again.
Just thought I would share that with you all.
And I tell you th [OOPS] sorry that's YOUR saying
----- So ?? No Charge for above information Ok !! 
I can remember very clearly when you were a novice asking all the questions.
Well done Doug....
And before you know it it will be 10 years since you retired. It will go very quickly now you are so busy. (Sorry, that's not to say you weren't busy when you were working!
)
-- Edited by neilnruth on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 02:11:18 PM
Good onya Doug, see what happens when you start asking questions.
I'm glad you added that last bit N&R.
I finished off all the plant trimming today so that's done and dusted.
See you real soon.
Congratulations Doug. In Nov we will have clocked up 2 yrs on the road since 'retirement' - our motto is "all plans subject to change at short notice". We arrived at Pardoo Station WA in mid May with plans to leave at the end of July - now staying till the end of Nov. (lol)
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Thursday 26th of September 2013 10:58:39 AM
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Thursday 26th of September 2013 10:59:42 AM
You're not missing much here in Coastal South West Gippsland Vic as the weather is cold gale force winds and heavy rain as I send this.
Hey Doug,
It is the end of the first year of your retirement and the end of the first of many more happy years of retirement ahead of you. I am hearing you on being younger though lol less aches and pains to badger us
I hope we get the opportunity to catch up on many occasions both here at home and out in the great playground of ours and I tell you that for free
Michelle
Congratulations Doug. You have been having a great time since you finished work I'm sure. Helen
Esmeralda, thanks, I am pointing the tug in the direction of Batemans Bay sometime next week with one or two overnight stop offs along the way for sight seeing adventures.
I bet you have many tales since I camped with you at greens.
I hope you have many years left to enjoy this great country.
We have to beat that John fella who keeps taking all the girls and leaving none for us. LOL ( a long way to go and I know he is probably fitter now than I am but here's hoping)
I have a few weeks to go for 5 years.
Still loving it and would never go back into a house again.
Regards
Brian
Well done Doug, I only wish I could do it also, I have absolutely no interest in the home and feel it is like a chain around my neck.
Unfortunately SWMBO isn't interested in being on the road full time so I have to be satisfied with the occasional joint sortie and the odd solo trip now and then.
I feel "alive" when I'm on the road and "decaying slowly" when staying at home for too long. Like others have said here I do believe being on the road keeps you interested in life if you enjoying doing it. Nuff said, just glad that you and others are enjoying the lifestyle....